How do you maintain at home if you have a history of retaining co2? This is a brand new thing for us, 3 hospital admissions in 5 weeks totally 18 days inpatient: intubation, bi-level machines, arterial blood gases, etc its been a nightmare. Was discharged July 24th and over the next 5 days, CO2 levels got high even while using the [recalled philips] Bipap 4 hrs a day. Been on a bipap marathon this past weekend, trying to blow it off and avoid the hospital again (they always seem to break something else on me while fixing another problem!) but just wondering what i can glean from other people living with an dealing with this.
Couldnt figure out why o2 would desat as soon as the bipap mask went on , just recently figured out it only happens when CO2 is rather high; after about 1-1.5 hrs on the bipap, o2 sats smooth out and can stay steady in high 80s/low 90s. Im attributing that to the initial layer of CO2 finally getting blown off and it being easier to oxygenate. Thought there was an issue with the pressure accuracy on my machine or the o2 concentrator causing the desats, its the CO2/stale air sitting in the lungs i believe.
Mostly im frustrated that there is no way to monitor CO2 levels from home other than symptoms!! Im even looking into what it would cost to get one of those handheld machines they have bedside in the hospital ICU that reads blood gases from drops of venous blood. The co2 readers that tell you how much co2 your exhaling are cool but i need to know what the blood gas level is!! Wondering if theres any coorelation between PH of urine and PH of blood? Is there a urine dipstick that could give me more information on my bicarb or PH of my blood, or something else it reads that would help give us a mere idea of where im at?
how else do you keep your blood alkaline when youre prone to retaining CO2? Someone suggested Apple Cider Vinegar , but isnt vinegar acidic?
Im using my caregivers account btw, this has been so scary for us both, hoping someone else that has experienced this has some tips or advice or words of wisdom to help us get through and manage this better!